Wis. FD’s electric fire engine responds to first structure fire

MADISON, Wis. — Madison’s first electric fire engine, a Pierce Volterra, responded to its first structure fire on Feb. 21 as the first arriving company.

Firefighters on Engine 8 arrived at the apartment building on the 800 block of North Thompson Drive to find smoke coming from the second floor. Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire in a closet, the department stated in a press release.

All occupants had safely evacuated before firefighters arrived, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and damage estimates are pending.

The Pierce Volterra pumper, based at Fire Station 8, had just been placed into service earlier the same week. The department stated its deployment marks a significant step in the city’s commitment to zero-emissions technology in emergency response.

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